POLICE COURT.—MONDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6053, 12 April 1881, Page 6

POLICE COURT.—MONDAY.

[Before R. C. Earstow, Esq., R.M.] Drunkenness.—Five persons were punished for first offences. Embezzxikg Cargo.—Daniel Knoffel and twelve other seamen of the ship Oxford, 'were charged with embezzling cargo on the voyage from England. Mr. Laishley for the accused pleaded not guilty. Mr. Pardy asked for a remand till Saturday, as the whole of the property had not been recovered. Mr. Laishley asked that one of the accused, named Gray, be discharged, as the police had no evidence against him. Mr. Pardy would not object, as there was no direct evidence against him. This was therefore done, and the others were remanded. Two witnesses, passengers by the Oxford, were called before the Court, and directed to be present

on Saturday. William Shea, a witness for the defence, was also directed to attend. A Professional Tramp.—John "Wilson was charged with attempting to extort money by menace. Mr. Pardy said this was a very serious case. The prisoner was in the habit of going about to houses in the outdistricts, and when he ascertained there were no men about a house, he extorted money from unfortunate women by threats of violence. In the present instance he had extjr'o 1 a shilling from Mrs. Nairn, at Mount Eden. He asked for a remand until Wednesday, to enable the police to collect the evidence. The remand was granted. Libel. — John Dickson Wickham was charged on the following information, "That John Dickson Wickham, of Auckland, journalist, did on or about the 26th day of March last, at Auckland aforesaid, unlawfully and maliciously write, print, and publish a certain false, scandalous, and malicious defamatory libel of and concerning the said William Lee Rees, in a certain newspaper called the Auckland Free Lance, the said article being contained in an article in the said paper, commencing as follows : — 'Months ago we warned Mr. G. M. Reed and the Belfast emigrants against dealing with Mr. W. L. Rees for land for a special settlement,' &c., contrary to the form, &c." Mr. Tyler for the informant, and Mr. A. E. Whitaker for the defendant. He pleaded not guilty, and applied for an adjournment for a week, as the summons had only been served late on Saturday night, and there was no time to prepare the defence. Mr. Tyler objected to the adjournment, at least for such a long time, as the informant resided at Gisborne, and would be detained from his place of business. H.e urged the Court to go on with the case. Mr. Whitaker said that would be unfair, as he was entirely unprepared, the summons having been only served late on Saturday night— or he might say that morning. Mr. Tyler quoted authorities to show that, on proof of the publication of the libel, the Magistrate was bound to commit, and no evidence could be received in this Court of the truth of the libel, so that there was no evidence to get up. Mr. Whitaker siid it would be unreasonable to ask him to go on with the case. As the holidays were coming on, he would ask that the case be adjourned till next Wednesday week. His Worship said it was unusual to grant such a long adjournment. He would adjourn the ca3e until Thursday, by which time the defence ought to be ready.